retreat

retreat:
what picture comes to your mind?
what feelings does that word arouse in your heart?

I think of two things:
a Friday overnight gathering of ladies
a tactical move in warfare

at first thought
I imagined them being
two completely different things

I was focused on the latter-
and this post was going to be about 
how retreat is not defeat

as I began to type I realized
that those two things
have a lot in common

retreat:
take a step back
regroup
recharge
evaluate
make a plan
move forward into the fray again

retreat
it's not a bad thing
it is a necessary part of my life

retreat 
does not mean
giving up

retreat
does mean 
getting fortified to continue fighting wisely

tonight
I am thankful for a friend
who has faithfully provided a safe place for me to do that for years

you know who you are
I love 
I am thankful God allowed our paths to cross